FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Following allegations of settings in IIT land deals at Sanguem, Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar on Wednesday said he is submitting a letter to the Governor withdrawing support to the Dr Pramod Sawant government.
Sawant was first to launch an attack on Gaonkar followed by BJP spokesperson Damu Naik who accused the MLA of indulging in ‘settings’ while locating land for the IIT in Sanguem.
Gaonkar at a press conference asked, “If CM feels I have done setting, what stops CM from conducting an enquiry into these so-called dealings?”
He said such words and statements of the Chief Minister of a State to a MLA who has extended support to him were not becoming.
“I am withdrawing support to this government, I will submit the letter to Governor Bhagat Singh Khoshyari now. I have lost all respect for this Chief Minister and there is no point being with him,” Gaonkar said.
Gaonkar also took at dig at former Fatorda MLA Damu Naik for his statement, saying, “Damu should not teach others lessons about commission.”
Explaining further, Gaonkar said three locations were identified for the IIT project in Sanguem at Cotarli, Rivona and Uguem. Rivona land was 100 percent owned by government and was barren land. “How come one get commission on government land?” he asked.
With regard to the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, he said there is no need for a new factory and the existing factory, with minor alterations, can be made viable.
